Marine grappling hook

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a grappling hook for use in mooring boats. It has an elongated shank defining an axis and having first and second ends thereon. The shank has a mooring line fastened to the first end and a hook-shaped grasping end at the second end extending outward from the axis. The hook has a balance point on the shank where the weight of the first end equals the weight of the second end. To moor the boat, the hook is thrown therefrom over an obstruction by the mooring line and drawn toward the boat, and when the balance point on the shank reaches the obstruction, the force of gravity lifts the hook end from the obstruction and rotates it downward about the shank to engage the obstruction, making fast the boat.

[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/481,745, filed Jan. 11, 2000.

[0002] The present invention is, in general, a grappling hook and, inparticular, a grappling hook for marine use, manufactured in severaldifferent ways.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A not uncommon problem when a personal boat approaches a desiredmoorage is that there may be no one present to receive a thrown mooringline. In such a situation, it is required somehow to take a mooring linefrom the boat to a slip, rock, or other fixed object, and to secure itto a convenient fixture or obstruction. This is usually done by someone,grasping said line, either rowing a small boat, or leaping, to thedesired spot. Such a feat requires strength and agility, and the resultsoften include skinned shins, sprained ankles, strained muscles and, notuncommonly, unexpected “dunkings”.

[0004] Most grappling hooks of traditional design include a shankdefining an axis, to one end of which is attached a flexible line, andfrom the other end a multiplicity of “U”-shaped arms having graspingends which radiate outwardly. When such a hook is thrown to a slip orother intended site, one or more of the grasping ends will grip somepart of the site, no matter how the hook is oriented about its axis. Itsvery real drawbacks include greater complexity to manufacture, morespace to store (always at a premium on a boat), and a danger of injuryfrom one or more of the multiplicity of grasping ends.

[0005] The present invention enables a person on a boat, even anunaccompanied operator, to secure a line at a desired moorage. It avoidsthe complexity of the traditional grappling hook, on the one hand and,on the other, either the necessity of having someone ashore to receive aline when thrown, or of the lone operator trying personally to fasten aline while manuevering the boat.

[0006] This ease of mooring is made possible by the structure of thepresent invention. As the hook is drawn toward the boat across a fixtureor obstruction (hereinafter defined) affixed to the surface of a slip,walkway or other mooring structure toward the boat, it reaches a balancepoint (hereinafter defined) of the hook, whereupon gravity lifts thegrasping end of the hook free of said surface and also rotates it aboutan axis (hereinafter defined), into position to engage said fixture orobstruction until a regular mooring line can be properly attached.

[0007] The hook can be manufactured of a number of materials, in severaldifferent ways.

[0008] Such a hook will have other uses than the mooring of boats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0009] The grappling hook of the present invention enables a person on aboat approaching a moorage to heave it, with a flexible line attached toa shank or first end thereof, onto or over a dock, slip or other surfaceof the moorage. As the present invention is pulled toward the boat overthe edge of the slip (or a bollard mounted along the edge of the slip),it reaches a point on its structure (hereinafter called the balancepoint) where the weight of the first or shank end of it equals theweight of the second or grasping end of it. Any further movement of thepresent invention toward the boat will lift the grasping end free of thedock surface and cause it to rotate downwards by gravity about the axisof the shank so that it will engage the dock edge, the bollard or otherobstruction. It will also function the same way with a log, a rock, oreven a limb of a tree overhanging a desired anchorage. This actionenables the boat to be pulled into a secure position at the moorage soregular mooring lines can be attached.

[0010] The hook of the present invention orients itself because of itsshape, which resembles a stylized “J”. A flexible line is attached tothe shank or first end, which is the longer arm of the “J”. The graspingor second end, is the shorter arm of the “J”. As the hook is drawn overan obstruction such as a bollard, the weight of the shank will lift thegrasping or second end free of the dock surface, and the weight of thatsecond end will rotate that end downward by gravity so that it engagesthe obstruction, as hereinafter described in detail.

[0011] The hook of the present invention can be manufactured of anyappropriate material, such as metal, fiberglass, or a tough plasticwhich can be molded into a desired shape, or even a thermoplastic whichcan be shrunk over the flexible line preformed into a hook shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the present invention, disclosing itsessential features.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a representation, in cross-section, of a typical moorageslip as the hook of the present invention is being heaved onto it froman approaching boat.

[0014]FIG. 3 is an oblique representation of a portion of the walkway ofthe moorage slip of FIG. 2, with the present invention lying on it priorto being drawn toward its edge.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a view of the present invention as its shank is drawnover an obstruction on the edge of the slip and the grasping end rotatesdownward to engage the obstruction.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a view of the present invention as it securely engagesthe obstruction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0017]FIG. 1 is an oblique general view of present invention 10, whichdiscloses its essential features, as described in detail following.

[0018] Invention 10 is a grappling hook intended for, but not restrictedto, marine use. It may be used anywhere that a person needs to attach aline at a position which is not easily accessible to said person. Thisis especially true of a boat approaching a moorage where no one ispresent to catch a mooring line. Hook 10 is shaped like a stylized “J”,where first or shank end 12, has a flexible line 14 attached to it, andsecond or grasping end 16 is for engaging a desired marine fixture orobstruction, as described in detail below. Shank portion 20, which isbetween shank end 12 and first bend 18, defines an axis of rotation, asdescribed in detail following, and also includes balance point 21, theimportance of which is also described hereinafter.

[0019] Hook structure 10, in its preferred form, defines a plane, withall elements from shank end 12 to grasping end 16 lying in the plane.This shape makes it easy to store, as contrasted with a traditionalgrappling hook, and requires little space.

[0020]FIG. 2 discloses invention 10, with flexible line 14 attached toit, as it is heaved from boat 24 to slip 26, which may have affixed toit stringers, beams, or bollards 28 a and 28 b mounted along the edges,as shown.

[0021] For simplicity of discussion and claiming, stringers, bollards,or beams 28 a and 28 b may be referred to below as obstruction 28. Also,rocks, overhanging limbs, and other appropriate fixed objects areintended by that term, both in the description and the claims.

[0022] The depicted structure of slip 26 is intended to be illustrative,not determinative, of small boat moorages for which the presentinvention can most effectively be used.

[0023]FIG. 3 depicts invention 10 lying on slip 26, having come to reston its surface after having been heaved there.

[0024] Balance point 21 is defined as the point where the weight ofshank portion 20 will equal the weight of grasping portion 16. Whenbalance point 21 is pulled beyond obstruction 28, the weight of shankportion 20 will lift grasping portion 16 from the surface of slip 26,and grasping portion 16 will rotate by gravity about axis 20 until ithangs downward, where it will be positioned to grasp obstruction 28 asinvention 10 is drawn further. Rotation will occur as long as theportion of hook 10 beyond bend 18 hangs free of the edge of obstruction28.

[0025]FIG. 4 discloses the orientation of invention 10 after it is drawnby line 14 over obstruction 28 to shank portion 20. The weight of shankportion 20 has lifted grasping portion 16 from the surface of slip 26,and grasping portion 16 has been rotated by gravity about axis 20 tohang downward, preparing it to engage obstruction 28.

[0026]FIG. 5 discloses invention 10 as it engages obstruction 28 as line14 is drawn taut. Line 14 can be fastened around a cleat or otherfastening device on craft 24, to keep it securely tied off to thedesired moorage until a regular mooring line can be attached.

[0027] The hook of present invention 10 can be manufactured of anyappropriate material which can be formed into a fixed shape and cannotbe easily deformed. Stainless steel and bronze are satisfactory, as wellas other metals which have the necessary strength as well as resistanceto deterioration by moisture or salt water. A tough plastic orfiberglass which can be molded into the desired shape, or a strongthermoplastic which can be shrunk over a flexible line which has beenpreformed into the appropriate shape, are among other materials whichmight be used.

[0028] The terms and expressions which have been employed in theforegoing specification are used therein as terms of description and notof limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms andexpressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown anddescribed, or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope ofthe invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

What I claim as my invention is:
 9. A grappling hook having: anelongated shank defining an axis and having first and second endsthereon; rope receiving means at the first end thereof; a grasping endhaving: a second first end thereof affixed to the second end of theshank; and a second free end spaced from the shank; the shank and thesecond free end defining a hook throat between them; and a flexible lineattached to the rope receiving means, CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF: thehook having thereon a balance point between the first end of the shankand the second free end of the grasping end, wherein the weight of theshank between the first end thereof and the balance point is equal tothe weight of the grasping end between the balance point and the secondfree end; whereby, after the hook has been thrown onto a surface towhich an obstruction is affixed, and the shank of the hook is drawntoward and up onto the obstruction, gravity:  lifts the grasping endfrom the surface when the balance point of the hook has passed theobstruction; and  rotates the grasping end downward about the axis, sothat the grasping end engages the obstruction.
 10. The grappling hook ofclaim 9, wherein said hook is manufactured of metal.
 11. The grapplinghook of claim 9, wherein said hook is manufactured of a molded plastic.12. The grappling hook of claim 9, wherein said hook is manufactured ofa thermoplastic shrunk over the flexible line preformed into the desiredshape.